When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
Technology never sleeps, however, and we have better tools today for controlling spam than we did just a few years ago. So I am very excited and pleased to bring the forum back online.
If you are already a registered user you may now log in and post. If you have lost your password, just click the request new password tab and follow the directions.
Please review and agree to the disclaimer and the forum rules. Our moderators will remove any posts that are promotional or otherwise fail to meet our guidelines and will block repeat offenders.
Remember, the forum is here for two reasons. First, to get your questions answered by other women who have knowledge and experience to share. Second, it is the place to share your results and successes. Your stories will help other women learn that Whole Woman is what they need.
Whether you’re an old friend or a new acquaintance, welcome! The Whole Woman forum is a place where you can make a difference in your own life and the lives of thousands of women around the world!
Best wishes,
Christine Kent
Founder
Whole Woman
elleninala
July 6, 2010 - 6:28pm
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ooh! ooh! sewing!
Hi, Christine, Louise and everyone. It's nice to be bonded by something besides having a prolapse, and sewing is a good common interest. I loved hearing from both of you seasoned sewers, like myself, how you like to make things out of what's on hand. Me too. Last week our little grandson in Michigan (we're in Alabama) said his very first word -- fish! My husband had the idea that I should make him a stuffed fish. I had the perfect bright orange denim on hand from having just made curtains for the grandson-in-DC's room. I used that, along with some bright cotton ruffle I had made and had left over from a pillow-making project. The ruffle made top and bottom fins. I added some quick hand embroidery for the features -- I have a ton of embroidery thread on hand from earlier years plus my mom's and her friend's . We wrote our little one his first letter, which said just FISH!!, then signed it, and mailed it today. Can't wait to hear back.
Tonight I'm making myself some stretch denim jeans. I still put a gusset in all my pants, and these days I do not gather or elasticize the waist at all. I use suspenders instead, underneath my shirt! No pressure on the waist at all.
Sewing is a great way of celebrating life. I think half the battle with prolapse is remembering to cherish all that is still whole.
Thanks for the video and the topic.
Ellen
granolamom
July 6, 2010 - 9:45pm
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ooh! ooh! sewing!
my sentiments exactly, ellen!
I have a rather large 'rag bin' full of outgrown but not hand-me-down-quality clothing. much of it has become a rather trendy stash of cloth diapers.
and yes, louise, I have taken to collecting zips, buttons, ribbing, appliques, etc from trash-bound garments. sometimes I wonder what I will ever do with all that stuff but then an opportunity arises..just today my 6 yo requested a 'soft and squishy sleeping bag' for his stuffed dog. well whaddya know, I happen to have a soft squishy shrunken sweater with hole in it. and the closure from an old laundry bag. by tomorrow eve the stuffed dog will be sleeping in style!
and old pillowcases make fabulous aprons and bibs.
the best is turning 11 dd's old clothes into outfits for the baby. and dont' forget doll clothing.
too bad I don't have more time to sew.
hey, christine - can we post pics of our sewing creations in the sewing room? love to see what everyone's up to
Christine
July 7, 2010 - 8:06am
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sewing
Great idea, Granolamom!! I will let the troops know we need a bulletin board in the sewing room - how cool!!
Ellen - how I wish we could take a field trip to watch how you put in a gusset! I will do my best with it. Wore a pair of gusseted pants to the mountains on Sunday to pick herbs and they make all the difference when squatting down. I want to start out slowly in the sewing room for those who are just learning. :)
louiseds
July 7, 2010 - 8:50am
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Pinup board
Christine, whatever happened to the Gallery idea? Now Wholewoman is on Facebook, could we upload sewing, or other images there, or would we have to email them to you first, and you or another administrator upload them?
elleninala
July 7, 2010 - 2:11pm
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gusset
The gusset shouldn't be too much of a challenge. I have improved on my earlier instructions, though, by realizing that it does help to break the stitching at the seamline, as you get to the end point of the gusset.
Here's a little caution: if you are making light-colored pants, it might be best to wear a tunic top, or one long enough to shade the crotch area, as you can wind up with a perfectly-fitted crotch outlined with seams. If this doesn't make you self-conscious, then no problem. Dark colored pants don't have such an explicit look and I can wear shorter tops with those.
Ellen
elleninala
July 7, 2010 - 2:18pm
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for new sewers
For anyone just learning to sew: just take one project at a time. Don't let us seasoned sewers make you think you should accumulate fabric and notions right away. In fact it's much better, I think, not to accumulate a fabric stash early on, as you will just bring pressure on yourself. One easy garment or project at a time is the way to start out.
I have taught several children to sew, and keep an extra machine that's easy for young ones to use. It's a skill like anything else. I remember making a couple of things I couldn't wear, and being very frustrated. That phase passes quickly. And it's great to actually figure out your own body type and be able to sew things that fit. I'd rather sew than shop any day!
Ellen
louiseds
July 9, 2010 - 4:27am
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Sewing tips for square projects
Hi Ellen
That is sound advice. Walking before you crawl has its pitfalls.
When I was starting out with sewing I used to sew flat things with straight seams and hems, like potholders and sheets and blankets for my dolls' cot. Yes, I did do a few girlie things. Making bags for things that need protection during storage teaches you how to do a few basics.
1 Start with a rectangular piece of fabric twice the size of the bag you need.
2 Fold it in half and sew a straight seam up the side, turn the corner and sew along the bottom.
3 Overlock it with zigzag. Or make a french seam by trimming back the edge of the first seam to about 1/4 inch, turning the bag inside out and sewing a second seam which will cover the raw edges of the first seam. This leaves the inside of the bag neat, without loose, fraying threads. This type of seam is great for pillow slips, which you can make from the not-worn-out sides of a worn sheet.
2 Sew a 2 inch wide hem with the edge turned under, on the top, to make a casing and leave a 1 1/2 inch gap between the beginning and the end of the circle, so you can thread a cord through it.
3 Sew a second line of stitching about halfway between the hem and the doubled over top of the bag. This makes a narrower casing for the cord, but it is easier to pull the cord up, and leaves a nice, simple trim on the top. You can get sophisticated with the way you have the cord coming out of the casing, but it is not necessary.
Another simple task is to go to the summer fabric shop sales and buy remnants of linen shirting fabric or a bit heavier. Rip into generous tea towel sizes and hem around the edge. These tea towels are very absorbent! Any sized piece of cotton fabric too small for tea towels can be hemmed around the edge to make kitchen cloths. I use these to wrap vegetables before putting them in a plastic bag in the fridge. They absorb condensation and keep the veges away from the plastic. The other obvious use for the fabric square is flannelette reusable nappies.
Ripping woven fabric instead of cutting it keeps the edges on the grain of the fabric, so the hems are straight. I like to always rip the cut ends from fabric I purchase for my own dressmaking, which ensures that the grain is straight when I lay the pattern on it. Once you sew your own garments you will realise the importance of this tip, because it ensures that the garment hangs properly. Be warned, you will never be happy with clothes off the rack again, because industrial cutters cannot be as careful as this with squaring up their fabric.
It also makes cutting out patterns with square pieces very easy, accurate and quick.
granolamom
July 13, 2010 - 8:51pm
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easy projects
I still consider myself a novice, and still have trouble making clothes that fit me well. I dont' have the time/concentration right now to perfect my fitting skills so I stay away from doomed-to-fail projects.
right now, my project list includes diapers (of course), an apron, and some shopping bags. oh, and a few knitting bags. I like your idea about wrapping veggies, louise. I have plenty of old sheets that I can see upcycled for that purpose!
I went through an apron phase a few years ago, was making them as gifts and all the recipients are requesting new ones. fit is not an issue and its a bit more interesting to sew than just flat squares. so maybe a just-right project for someone who's no longer very new to sewing.
and you are so right, louise! forget about manufacturers not always being able to square the grain, sometimes they don't bother because it they can use less fabric if no attention is paid to grain lines. drives me crazy! and you know people think 'whats wrong with my body - this looks awful on me!' when the fault lies in manufacturing cost-cutting.